Historical information

Herbert A. Leighton was an actor and elocution teacher known widely in the eastern states of Australia where he perforomed with his wife, Tracy Hamilton. However all was not as it seemed. In 1903 he was arrested in Perth after suspicions were raised when he purchased expensive clothes and jewellery for his wife. Subsequently, six thousand pounds in banknotes was found under his bed. Another fellow from his theatre group was also arrested and charged with bank robbery. Leighton was charged with receiving money knowing it was stolen. Investigations by the Perth police showed that Leighton was really Norman Campbell, born in Gippsland. He had worked as a bank clerk in the Victorian Savings Bank in Melbourne and in the same role at the Sydney Savings bank in NSW. During this time he amassed large sums of money by forgery, a crime he spent 7 years in prison for. He then emerged as the newly minted H. A. Leighton, actor and elocution teacher in Bendigo.

Physical description

Large format scrapbook collated by H.A. Leighton. Contains photographs, flyers, ribbons, banners, programs, invitations, newspaper clippings, posters, promotional photos of performers between 1901 and 1904.
The material includes items from theatrical performances and programs from Bendigo and other cities. Includes information about Bendigo performers including Alex J Hamilton.
Includes information about performers who visited Bendigo. Many of the items overlap others.
The scrapbook has a heavy brown cover with black tape binding on the spine and the corners with brown paper pages. Written on the front cover Musical & Dramatic Notes in red and black ink plus a drawing of a standing woman in a long black dress with arms outstretched.
Paper items have been glued onto the pages with several loose items.

Inscriptions & markings

H A L. Fecit. In One Day. 29.11.00. Bendigo. Written inside the front cover on a drawing of an artist's palette.